Several ways to get to Ipoh from Penang

Choose the best way for yourself to suit your personal needs

By train

There is a daily train from Hat Yai, Thailand via Butterworth, Penang to Ipoh and finally reach KL (Kuala Lumpur). You can catch this train at Butterworth by 9.30pm and reach Ipoh Railway Station by 2.15am. A ticket for normal seat will cost you RM18.

Unless you have relatives and friends at Ipoh, you will need to pay for expensive taxi fare to pick you up from the Ipoh Railway Station at midnight. However, for budget traveller, you can stay at the Majestic Railway Hotel (budget hotel) which located just upstair of the station.

By bus

Going to Ipoh from Penang by bus would be the best choice in terms of convenience and economic. There is a more frequent bus schedule, where almost one bus per hour. And the ticket is just RM13.50. The time needed for the bus travel is about 2 to 2 and a half hours.

Since the Penang bus terminal has moved to Sungai Nibong, which is about 20 minutes drive from Komtar (old bus terminal), you may have to take the minibus no.25 from Prangin Mall, Komtar for RM0.80 per trip. It is still quiet convenient as the bus runs regularly. And some express bus companies provide minivan tansfer, picking you up from the Komtar to Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal for an addition surcharge of RM2 per person.

Alternately, you can take a taxi too, which is more expensive, costing about RM15 to RM20.

By taxi

As usual, you always can take a taxi to anyway, include Ipoh if you have the budget for it. The time schedule will be much more flexible to fit your personal needs. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to reach Ipoh.

By car

The benefits of driving a car from Penang to Ipoh are convenience, convenience and convenience. It doesn't suit for budget travellers as you will need a rental car (if you don't own a car), petrol and toll fees (Penang Bridge and North-South Expressway).

However, for you who have the budget, it is more convenient. It is because travelling around Ipoh is easier by self driving due to the lack of public transport services. It is even not so easy to get a rental car in Ipoh.

So, you will drive through the North-South Expressway and pay the toll fees at Jelapang. Then you will reach the first exit to northern Ipoh (Kuala Kangsar Road and city center) and there is a second exit to southern Ipoh (Bercham and Ipoh Garden etc.) when you drive further on the expressway. You may choose one of the exit based on your final destination in Ipoh.